Williams ousted by Kuznetsova

Serena Williams' hopes of landing a second French Open title were dashed as she lost to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarter-finals.

The American second seed came back from a set down and saved two match points before eventually folding 7-6 (7/3) 5-7 7-5 after two hours and 47 minutes' action on Suzanne Lenglen court.

Seventh seed Kuznetsova will meet 30th seed Sam Stosur in the semi-finals, the Australian having earlier brushed past teenager Sorana Cirstea 6-1 6-3.

Williams, the 2002 champion here, won just two points in the opening three games as she was broken twice to fall 3-0 down, and she quickly found herself 5-3 behind.

The 10-time grand-slam winner upped her intensity when it came to crunch time, winning three successive games for 6-5 but squandering a set point in game 12.

She played a poor tie-break, though, as she slipped 6-1 down and despite saving two set points, Kuznetsova's forehand winner on the run brought her the set.

The Russian started the second set like she did the first, and a lucky net cord earned her an early 3-0 cushion.

Serving for the match at 5-3, Kuznetsova - by now covered in red dust after a heavy fall in the seventh game - choked.

Williams seized the initiative and won four games on the bounce, sealing the set with an ace, to take it to a decider.

She then took a 3-1 lead in the third but Kuznetsova broke back in the sixth game, as a result of a dreadful drop-shot attempt by her opponent, and strode into a 5-4 lead.

The 2004 US Open champion squandered two match points in game 10 with a backhand then forehand long but in Williams' next service game, Kuznetsova clinched victory when the American skewed a backhand wide.

Kuznetsova is the second Russian to make the semi-finals, along with compatriot Dinara Safina, the top seed and title favourite.

She is the only player to defeat Safina on clay this year.

Doubles specialist Stosur had earlier dismissed the unseeded Cirstea in straight sets in a battle between two players making their debuts in a grand-slam quarter-final.

The Australian raced into a 3-0 lead and after her 19-year-old opponent was broken again, Stosur wrapped up the first set at the first time of asking.

World number 41 Cirstea stunned fifth seed Jelena Jankovic in round four but she struggled badly in blustery conditions on Philippe Chatrier court.

The Romanian improved in the second set but was still broken twice as Stosur eased through.